Australian Travellers Face Uncertainty Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions

A few weeks out from a long-awaited trip to visit family on the other side of the world, Chris Turley is worried a 90-minute window will undo his careful planning.

That is how long his family is due to spend transiting through Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on August 18 on the way to spend seven weeks in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

In recent days, as conflict between the United States and Iran has once again escalated, the federal government's travel advice for some locations in the Middle East has been raised to a higher level.

Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia were added to a list of Level 3 countries to where Australians are advised to "reconsider your need to travel", joining the UAE, Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

Mr Turley, his wife Claire and 11-year-old daughter are due to stop over in Abu Dhabi both on the way to their holiday in mid-August and when they return home to Adelaide in October.

Mr Turley said they had been feeling relieved when tensions eased following the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran in April.

"It obviously seemed to calm down, and we were feeling a lot happier about that, but it has started to all fall to pieces," he said.

Mr Turley said his family was not in a position to wear the cost of changing travel plans or cancelling flights at this stage, and was hoping for the best with the UAE stopover.

"We're only there for about an hour and a half," he said.

"I would be lying to say it didn't cross my mind that we could be there when something happens, or getting stuck there is certainly a concern for us too," he said.

Government travel advice reflects conflict escalation

Australian authorities are currently discouraging travel to virtually the entire Middle East.

The Smartraveller advice for the region, last updated yesterday, warns the situation there "remains unpredictable".

"There have been recent military strikes and reprisal attacks in a number of locations in the region," it reads.

"There is a risk of more attacks and escalation in the region."

Six countries in the region — Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen — remain at Level 4, with the official advice being "do not travel".

Regarding the UAE, Qatar and other Level 3 destinations, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade urges Australians to "avoid non-essential travel to these locations".

"If you need to transit, stay as short a time as possible and avoid unnecessary activities," the advice reads.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has advised air operators to avoid Gulf airspace until at least July 29, and Australians with travel plans during the period are advised to check with their travel provider.

The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) chief executive Dean Long said his organisation had not yet seen any change due to the re-escalation of conflict in the region.

"Our members are not reporting any decline in bookings as a result of developments in the Middle East," he said.

"While Saudi Arabia and Oman have been added to the travel advice, neither is a major destination for Australian travellers."

"Turkey, which has direct services from Australia, also continues to perform as expected, with no noticeable impact on demand."

Early change of plans pays off

Thousands of people have been killed, mostly in Iran and Lebanon, since US and Israeli forces first attacked Iran on February 28.

Iran has sent drone and missile strikes against military and civilian targets in a number of its Arab neighbours, including the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.

In March, Iranian strikes damaged Dubai's international airport and a luxury hotel.

Still, Mr Long from ATIA said bookings through the main Middle East hubs had steadily recovered since "the initial disruption" earlier this year.

"Lower fares and confidence in the existing travel advice are helping to support demand, and travellers are largely continuing to connect through the region as usual," he said.

Since Sally O'Brien changed her travel plans due to conflict in the Middle East back in March, she has begun to wonder whether she should re-book.

The resident of Benalla, in regional Victoria, cancelled the trip to Egypt and Jordan she and her husband were due to go on in August, and switched her flights so the European leg of their holiday transited through Hong Kong rather than Qatar.

"If the only way you could get to Europe was through the Middle East, I would have sucked it up and risked it, but it isn't," she said.

Now three weeks out from travelling, Ms O'Brien said she felt grateful she decided to adapt her plans early, which left her out of pocket several hundred dollars.

She said she had been concerned that worrying would overshadow her enjoyment of the holiday.

"We just decided it was better to be decisive and avoid the stress of having to look at the press and think, 'Oh, what are they doing now?'" she said.